Medicine

Grimshaw, Thomas Wrigley (1839–1900), surgeon and medical statistician, was born 16 November 1839 at Whitehouse, near Belfast, Co. Antrim, the son of Wrigley Grimshaw (d. 1878), FRCS,…

Gubbins, Sir Charles Decimus O'Grady (1855–1911), medical doctor and parliamentarian, was born 23 May 1855 in Ballingarry, Co. Limerick, son of the Rev. George Gubbins and Dorothea Gubbins (née Purdon). He was educated in Tipperary and at TCD…

Gwynn, Arthur Montagu (1908–2008), medical doctor, naturalist, explorer and editor, was born 5 August 1908 in the family home, St Dymphna's, Clontarf, Dublin, second eldest of three sons and two daughters of Edward John Gwynn (qv),…

Hadden, George (1882–1973), medical doctor and historian, was born 9 October 1882 at Richmond Terrace, Wexford town, son of George Hadden, draper and alderman, and Hannah Mary Hadden (née Perrot). The Haddens, a methodist family, were established in Wexford town during the nineteenth…

Halappanavar, Savita (1981–2012), catalyst for change in Irish abortion laws, was born Savita Andanappa Yalagi on 29 September 1981 in Bagalkot, Karnataka province, south-west India, the youngest of three children (two boys, one girl) of Andanappa Yalagi, an electrical engineer with the…

Haliday, Alexander Henry (1727?–1802), physician and public figure in Belfast, was one of several sons of Samuel Haliday (qv), a presbyterian minister at Belfast. Intent on a career as a physician, Alexander Haliday…

Hallaran, William Saunders (c.1762–1825), psychiatric pioneer, was the son of William Hallaran (d. 1794?) of Castlemartyr, Co. Cork, and was likely born in Cork in the early 1760s. After graduating MD from Edinburgh University (c.1788), he returned to Cork and served…

Hamilton, William James (1903–75), anatomist, was born 21 July 1903 in Ballytober, Islandmagee, Co. Antrim, to Andrew Hamilton, master mariner, and Emeline Gertrude Hamilton (née Hunter). Educated at QUB, he obtained a…

Hampson, Sara E. (fl. 1860–1908), nurse, was probably born in England, but almost nothing is known of her life outside her Dublin career. She was one of the first members trained in the Nightingale School of Nursing at St Thomas's Hospital, London (opened 1860), and worked…

Hancock, Thomas (1783–1849), doctor, was born 26 March 1783 in Lisburn, Co. Antrim, son of Jacob Hancock and Elizabeth Hancock (née Phelps). The Hancocks, a quaker family, were noted for philanthropy and were prominent in the local linen industry. John Hancock (d. 1764) was his father's…

Hannan, Mary Josephine (1865–1935?), doctor, was born in Dublin; nothing is known of her parents. One of the earliest female students admitted to study medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, she became in July 1890 the first Irishwoman to graduate…

Hannelly, Dympna (1922–2014), missionary nun, was born Eitne Hannelly on 4 December 1922 to Patrick Hannelly and Annie Hannelly (née Egan) of Tarmon, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon. Known as ‘Enna’ to her family, she had a twin brother Padraig, two other brothers and two sisters. Padraig…

Harrison, Robert (1793–1858), surgeon and anatomist, was born in Co. Tipperary, son of John Harrison; nothing is known of his mother. He entered TCD in October 1809, aged 16; his father was dead by this time. After his initial medical…

Hartigan, William (c.1766–1812), surgeon, was born in Dublin, only son of two known children of Edward Hartigan, apothecary, member of the barber surgeons and freeman (1749) of the city of Dublin, and his wife (née Heron). Educated as a surgeon, he began practice c…

Harty, William (1781–1854), physician and medical writer, was born in Kilkenny city, son of Timothy Harty, gentleman; nothing is known of his mother. He entered TCD in April 1797, aged 16, and became a scholar in 1799. He graduated…

Harvey, Joshua Reuben (1804–87), physician and naturalist, was born in Cork, into a quaker family, son of Reuben Harvey (1770–1830), American consul in Cork, and Mary Harvey (née Fennell). He entered TCD, graduating…

This is a co-subject for the entry on Harvey, Joshua Reuben. View the original entry.

Haughton, Samuel (1821–97), geologist, physiologist and mathematician, was born 21 December 1821 in Carlow, second of three sons of Samuel Haughton, merchant, and Sarah Haughton (née Hancock). Although of quaker stock, Haughton was brought up within the established church. He entered…

Haughton, William Steele (1869–1951), surgeon and pioneer in radiology, was born 26 September 1869 in Dublin, fourth and youngest son among six children of Professor Samuel Haughton (qv), scientist and polymath, and his wife and cousin…

Hayden, Thomas (1823–81), physician, was born into a landowning family in Parsonshill, near Fethard, Co. Tipperary. His father's cousin was Bartholomew Hayden (1792–1857), born in Co. Tipperary, who had a distinguished career in the Brazilian navy, reaching the rank of commodore.…

Hayes, Richard Francis (1882–1958), medical doctor, nationalist, historian, and film censor, was born in Bruree, Co. Limerick, son of Richard Hayes, local teacher, and Margaret Hayes (née Ruddle). Attending Bruree national school with his direct contemporary…

Healy, Timothy Maurice (1898–1958), doctor, was born 5 May 1898 in Dublin, youngest child among three sons and three daughters of T. M. Healy (qv), MP and later first governor-general of the Irish Free State, and Erina Katherine…

Hearn, Mary Ellice Thorn (1891–1969), gynaecologist and first female fellow of the RCPI, was born 25 February 1891 at 17 St Patrick's Place, Cork, the daughter of William Edward Ashley Cummins (1858–1923), professor of…

Hedderman, Bridget (1872–1943), district nurse, was born on 17 January 1872, in the family home at Querrin, just outside Kilkee, Co. Clare, the eldest of four daughters of Manus and Mary Hedderman (née Nash). Manus Hedderman worked a variety of jobs, including fisherman, boatman and…

Helsham, Richard (c.1682–1738), doctor and physicist, was born in Kilkenny city, son of Joshua Helsham, alderman and mayor (1692–4) of the city; nothing is known of his mother. In 1698, aged 15, Helsham proceeded from Kilkenny College to…